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Toronto: Insider Secrets (From a Local!) for Big Travel With Small Money

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Million Mile Secrets team member Jasmin grew up in the Toronto area and visits with her kids frequently. So I’ve asked her to share her favorite activities. And how to save money on flights, attractions, and more!

It’s Not Just About the CN Tower! If You Visit Toronto, You Can Find Adventures by Checking out the Amazing Neighborhoods, Like Chinatown and Kensington Market

Jasmin: My kids and I live in Western New York not far from the US / Canada border. So we visit friends and family in the Toronto area whenever we can. And the kids love all the fun things to see and do there.

Toronto can be pricey. But I’ll share 3 of our favo(u)rite 😉 activities in the area and how you can save on a visit!

Big Travel in Toronto

There are tons of things to do in Toronto! And you can find fun (and relatively inexpensive) adventures.

Pho Hung – There are lots of pho joints in Toronto – this is one of our faves!

Swatow – Authentic food, huge menu, something for everyone – any of the noodle dishes, congee, or soups are terrific

Lucky Kids Got a Free Lesson in Dumpling Making From the Lovely Folks at Dumpling House in Toronto’s Chinatown

Escape the Ordinary in These Neighborhoods

And right next to Chinatown is Kensington Market, an incredibly diverse neighborhood with unique shops, restaurants, and tons of funky vintage clothing stores. Or walk a little further south to Queen Street West, which has a hip and artsy vibe (it’s a great area for shopping and people-watching).

In the warmer months, Little Italy is a great spot to sit out on a patio with a cocktail or gelato. Or wander along The Danforth and take your pick of dozens of Greek and Mediterranean restaurants. They close off a huge stretch of the street each summer for an incredible food festival called Taste of the Danforth, where you can sample all kinds of tasty dishes and enjoy musical performances (come hungry and be prepared to walk a LOT).

You’d Never Guess You’re Only ~1 Mile From the Downtown of North America’s 4th Largest City When You Visit the Toronto Island Park

And if you’re into shopping, Yorkville is a top pick for designer clothing stores, boutiques, and high-end restaurants. During the Toronto International Film Festival, it’s not uncommon to spot movie stars and celebrities in the area.

Not for the Faint of Heart! Leviathan Is the 9th Tallest Steel Roller Coaster in the World, and My Kids Would Ride It Over and Over If They Could (Once or Twice Is Enough for Mommy)

Do NOTbuy your tickets at the gate. You can save by booking online in advance, or sometimes through Costco.ca. This past summer, we found discounted admission tickets on Groupon for ~$24 per person (normally ~$50 at the gate or ~$33 online). Plus, by going through a shopping portal first, we earned additional cash back!

To save on food, consider packing a lunch to eat outside the park gates (they won’t let you in with a cooler) in one of the picnic areas. You’ll also see lots of families tailgating in the parking lot. 🙂

3. Cross Niagara Falls off the Bucket List

While not technically in Toronto (it’s a ~90 minute drive away), Niagara Falls is a must-see if you’ve never been. The Falls themselves are breathtaking. And there are plenty of other activities in and around the area to enjoy. Journey Behind the Falls and the Hornblower (the Canadian version of Maid of the Mist) are a couple of our favorites!

Note: While the American side is pretty and boasts a State Park, there aren’t nearly as many attractions there.

If you’re visiting the Canadian side and think you’ll visit several attractions, you can save by purchasing a Niagara Adventure Pass. Or check discount sites like Groupon for cheap admission tickets or activities like wine tours.

And it’s free to walk around the Falls and Clifton Hill, but beware – there are plenty of opportunities to spend money with arcades, games, rides, and themed museums. I usually give the kids a budget and when the money’s gone … we’re done! 🙂

Yes, You WILL Get Soaked! Get up Close and Personal With the Falls on the Maid of the Mist (US Side) or Hornblower (Canadian Side) Cruises

For a more Victorian, romantic feel, the nearby town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is a lovely spot for shopping, carriage rides, and quaint shops and restaurants. We’ve driven through on our way home just to stop for fudge and an ice cream cone (but many folks stay overnight at one of the many B&Bs there).

If you’ll be doing a lot of activities in the area, it’s worth considering spending the night. Most major hotel chains have locations in Niagara Falls you can book with points. We’ve also stayed at Great Wolf Lodge, which can be pricey (but super fun for the kiddos). But sometimes you can find deals on Groupon in the off-season.

Toronto has 2 airports – Toronto Pearson International and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (much smaller). If you’re flying on a US or international airline, or most Air Canada flights, you’ll fly into Pearson. Billy Bishop (formerly Toronto Island Airport) is the downtown airport on Toronto Island, and only offers flights from Porter Airlines (domestic and US) and regional Air Canada flights to and from Montreal.

Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport Is on Toronto Island and Offers US Flights to Spots Like Boston, Chicago, Newark, and Washington, DC, on Porter Airlines

You’ll typically pay 25,000 to 30,000miles for a round-trip flight to Toronto from the US on the major airlines. However, short-haul routes can sometimes cost less. For example, American Airlines charges 15,000 miles round-trip for flights to Canada 500 miles or less (like New York or Chicago to Toronto).

Bottom Line

Toronto doesn’t have to be expensive if you pick the right activities and know where to find discounts!

You don’t have to spend a lot of money exploring fantastic neighborhoods like Chinatown, Queen Street West, or the Toronto Islands. And because Toronto is so multicultural, the restaurant scene is amazing (and you can find plenty of cheap eats!).

Don’t forget to check discount websites like Groupon for deals on admission to big attractions. Or consider purchasing a multi-attraction pass to save if you’ll be visiting several spots.

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Editorial Note: Neither the editorial content nor the comments on this site are provided by the companies whose products are featured. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or evaluations provided here are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the Advertiser.

Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card issuers from which MillionMileSecrets.com receives compensation. Compensation does not impact the placement of cards on Million Mile Secrets other than in banner advertising. MillionMileSecrets.com does not include all credit card offers that might be available to consumers in the marketplace.